Chapter 114: Everyone Regretted It

Li Shanchang regretted his words the moment they left his lips. He suspected that Liu Yi had dug a deep pit for him to fall into, though he still could not fathom what Liu Yi was actually planning.

He knew that Manzi Haiya, the Censor-in-Chief of the Yuan Dynasty's Jiangnan Branch Secretariat, was stationed in Zhenjiang, but even if the late Censor-in-Chief Fushou were to rise from the dead, it would be impossible for the Chaohu Navy to bypass Zhang Shicheng’s forces and swoop down from the heavens to seize Songjiang Prefecture.

The more Li Shanchang failed to understand, the more he regretted his openness. Liu Yi clearly sensed his hesitation. "Mr. Li, if you ever find your situation inconvenient, you are welcome to come to Zhenjiang at any time. As long as I, Liu Yi, have food to eat, I will never let you go hungry!"

Li Shanchang had not expected Liu Yi to attempt to poach him in front of so many people, but the remark actually steadied his nerves. "Please rest assured, Commissioner Liu. As long as Vice Commissioner Zhu remains in Yingtian, I have no fear of going hungry."

Nevertheless, given the promise, Li Shanchang tucked the offer away in his mind.

After Li Shanchang departed, some within the Zhenjiang Bureau of Military Affairs expressed their own regrets. "Commissioner, why didn’t we take this opportunity to squeeze Yingtian for all they are worth? If we don't send troops, Yingtian and Gaoyou will surely exhaust each other in battle!"

"Indeed. Yingtian should at least show some real sincerity. Sending only Li Shanchang isn't enough; they should have sent some of those beauties our commissioners have been eyeing!"

"I believe the Commissioner has long-term plans, but is it wise to reveal our intentions regarding Songjiang Prefecture so early?"

"I agree that we must coordinate with Yingtian, but disclosing our plans for Songjiang so soon seems unwise."

Liu Yi understood the hesitation of his subordinates. He replied with refreshing candor: "The reason I made our plans for Songjiang public is to burn our bridges. If our forces cannot take Songjiang, we will be forever at the mercy of Yingtian!"

This was the true intent behind Liu Yi's actions.

No one in the world understood Liu Yi better than Zhu Yuanzhang. Upon hearing Li Shanchang’s report, he immediately grasped the situation. "The Chaohu camp is looking to split off and go independent. But Commissioner Liu’s calculations are too optimistic. Even with his god-like schemes, he cannot take Songjiang Prefecture."

Songjiang was a piece of meat that even Zhu Yuanzhang coveted, but it was no easy prize. Li Shanchang had already begun analyzing the logistics on Liu Yi's behalf: "If the Chaohu Navy wants to take Songjiang, they must first break through the Yangtze River defenses in Changzhou, then seize Jiangyin. After taking Jiangyin, they would have to advance through Changshu, Kunshan, and Jiading in Pingjiang Circuit before they could finally capture Songjiang."

Though Li Shanchang had tried to think from Liu Yi's perspective, he still could not comprehend the logic behind Liu Yi’s strategy. Songjiang faced the sea; to take it, the Chaohu Navy would have to sweep through every territory Zhang Shicheng held in Jiangnan. Putting aside the difficulty of seizing hundreds of miles of riverfront, simply cutting the Yangtze to isolate Zhang’s forces into two non-communicating halves was something Zhang Shicheng would never tolerate.

Zhu Yuanzhang was optimistic. "I suspect the Chaohu camp intends to use the forces of the defectors Manzi Haiya and Kang Maocai. But it won't be that simple. I will inform Zhang Shicheng of the conspiracy in Zhenjiang and let them tear each other apart!"

Li Shanchang felt Zhu Yuanzhang’s plan was flawless. However, after Li left, a weary female voice drifted from the inner quarters: "I believe that whatever you and Mr. Li can see, Commissioner Liu can see as well. His public declaration about Songjiang is likely a feint—attacking in the east to strike in the west."

Zhu Yuanzhang, who had thought his plan impeccable, suddenly realized the truth upon hearing Ma Xiuying’s warning. "I suspect that while he has his eyes on Songjiang, his true target is Jiangyin. But Jiangyin is not so easily taken. If he wants Jiangyin, he must first help me punch through the entire Changzhou Circuit!"

To reach Jiangyin from Zhenjiang, one had to first clear the riverfront of Changzhou, and Jiangyin was the most firmly held territory of Zhang Shicheng’s group in Jiangnan. Zhang had invaded the region at the invitation of the local tycoon Zhu Ying, and the area remained under their joint control. Even if the Chaohu Navy managed to clear the Changzhou riverfront, taking Jiangyin would require immense effort. "Thank goodness for your reminder, my lady. Otherwise, I would have fallen into his trap. The man is feigning interest in Songjiang while actually targeting Jiangyin. If the two or three hundred miles of river between Zhenjiang and Jiangyin fall into Chaohu's hands, the consequences would be unthinkable!"

For Zhu Yuanzhang, Songjiang was a distant concern, but those few hundred miles of river were vital; he could not yield even an inch to the Chaohu camp.

Ma Xiuying, however, held a different view. "Husband, since the Chaohu camp wants those few hundred miles of river, let them have it. You must look at the bigger picture."

Zhu Yuanzhang remained fixated on the river. "That won't do. They should stop once they have Zhenjiang. If they take those few hundred miles, they will surely challenge us for supremacy immediately. My refusal to yield is also for the long-term benefit of Commissioner Liu and the Zhenjiang Bureau!"

With that, Zhu Yuanzhang made his decision: "Tell Tang He that he must pay close attention to the situation on the river!"

But Tang He was already preoccupied. "Zhang Shide has launched his forces from Pingjiang Circuit?"

Since the campaign against Changzhou began, Tang He’s offensive had been like a hot knife through butter. Zhang Shicheng’s forces were not firmly established in Changzhou, and his main force was occupied in Pingjiang. Tang He faced only secondary troops and local militias. Once the campaign began, the local gentry immediately defected to Yingtian, and with their assistance, Tang He’s advance was remarkably smooth. Within a few rounds, Zhang’s forces had voluntarily withdrawn from the Changzhou Circuit.

But this was only the first round. The army led by Zhang Shide was the true opponent. "Although the Vice Commissioner is prepared to lead the campaign in Changzhou himself, we must hold off Zhang Shide first. Do you have any plans to stop him?"